Wednesday, 24 Apr 2024

House Dems push through sweeping voting rights bill

The House on Friday passed a sweeping anti-corruption and voting rights bill that intends to increase access to the ballot box and unmask large political donors.

The measure includes proposals such as making Election Day a federal holiday, automatic voter registration, and access to voting for convicted felons.

The bill passed by a vote of 234-193, but is not likely to get a vote in the Republican-controlled Senate.

It was condemned by GOP lawmakers, in part because of the proposals related to campaign finances.

Part of the bill would require super PACs and other groups that spend money in campaigns to reveal the names of donors who give more than $10,000.

“This bill is a massive federal government takeover that would undermine the integrity of our elections,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said after the vote.

A Republican-backed proposal to include language that condemns the idea of illegal immigrants voting was voted down by nearly every Democrat.

The motion would have included language in the bill that said “allowing illegal immigrants the right to vote devalues the franchise and diminishes the voting power of United States citizens.”

All but six Democrats voted against the proposal.

A spokesperson for GOP Whip Steve Scalise claimed an identical resolution was approved by the House when Republicans controlled the chamber last year.

Source: Read Full Article

Related Posts